ELittle did you know when you saw the stone face of Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez as he left the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday evening. But when Real Madrid sent out a statement less than 24 hours later saying that Xabi Alonso, 44, had been Real Madrid’s coach for the longest time “by mutual agreement” and with immediate effect, there was a feeling of surprise in the Spanish capital. Sure, he lost the Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia 2-3 against FC Barcelona, a club that club boss Pérez particularly hates losing to. But it was not expected on Monday that Alonso would have to leave after 34 games and just six months.
